eops 2013 08_21

Surface Conditions Report, August 21, 2013

Featured Report: The Marine Waters 2012 Overview Report, (go here)

Eyes Over Puget Sound

Up-to-date observations of visible water quality conditions in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca

Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings

Start here

Publication No. 13-03-077

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Personal flight log p. 4 Yesterday’s flight encapsulates all the lovely things about summer. Weather conditions p.6 Warm air temperatures, less sunshine in the north, and increasing river flows in the past week. Water column and mooring p.7 , p.39 After 2 years of favorable conditions with colder temperatures and higher oxygen, Puget Sound waters are turning lower in dissolved oxygen. Aerial photography p. 11 Red-brown blooms abundant in inlets of South Sound and the Kitsap Peninsula. Large algal mats in Hood Canal, Central Sound, Sinclair Inlet, and Padilla Bay. Effects of glacier fed rivers strong. Ferry and satellite p. 36 Near-surface temperatures warm in South Sound. Low-tide imagery provides rare glimpse of beautiful braided channels criss-crossing Whidbey Basin river deltas!

Mya Keyzers Laura Friedenberg

Joe Leatherman

Skip Albertson

Dr. Christopher Krembs

Dr. Brandon Sackmann

Julia Bos Suzan Pool

David Mora

www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/eops/ Previous Eyes Over Puget Sound reports:

Marine conditions from 8-21-2013 at a glance Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/eops/

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/eops/

http://www.eopugetsound.org/ Read about 2012 conditions in Puget Sound in the latest report from PSEMP


The Puget Sound Marine Waters: 2012 Overview informs on the marine water conditions and associated biota in Puget Sound. It compiles the physical, chemical, and biological information obtained from diverse marine monitoring and observing programs.

• The report represents a collaboration among agencies and scientists forming a collective view of marine water conditions to enhance the ecological understanding of Puget Sound as an economic lifeline for Western Washington.

• Highlights include intense blooms of Noctiluca and unprecedented shellfish harvesting closures in Hood Canal due to contamination with biotoxins from harmful algae.

http://www.psp.wa.gov/downloads/psemp/PSmarinewaters_2012_overview.pdf

Picture by Bill Dewey.




http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/pdf/PSmarinewaters_2012_overview.pdf

North Sound Flight

Mya and Christopher

Yesterday’s flight seemed to encapsulate all the lovely things about this summer. I was having a lovefest with the northwest. Flying on a beautiful summer day will do that. Allow me to capture this moment so in a few months when we are bemoaning the short days and grey skies I can revisit my ode to these memorable summer days…

Personal flight log 8-21-2013 Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings

Boaters everywhere! When water meets water Thatcher Pass

Plane parked ashore

Summer we love thee, Blue skies and cool water and salt air abound. The people on ships come wave and shake us, the kids looking up with faces of glee. When iced tea and lab work blend and befriend us and ideas are born from the wind and the sea. Please join us and take a minute to wonder at the Puget Sound summer of 2013!

Personal flight log 8-21-2013 Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings


Weather patterns from 8-3-2013 to 8-21-2013

Meteorological conditions typically explain up to half of the variance in observed marine variables (Moore et al. 2008), particularly in shallower waters like those of south Puget Sound. I summarized the specific conditions prevalent during the past two weeks, from north to south. Source: http://www-k12.atmos.washington.edu/k12/grayskies/nw_weather.html

Moore et al. 2008. Local and large-scale climate forcing of Puget Sound oceanographic properties on seasonal to interdecadal timescales. Limnol. Oceanogr., 53(5), 1746–1758

Summary: Air temperatures. Daily average air temperatures have increased to above-normal levels for the past several days. Sunshine levels have been higher than normal in early August but lower for the past several days except in South Puget Sound. River flows transitioned from below to slightly above normal levels. Winds have been weak and variable throughout the region.

Moore et al. 2008. Local and large-scale climate forcing of Puget Sound oceanographic properties on seasonal to interdecadal timescales. Limnol. Oceanogr., 53(5), 1746–1758

http://www-k12.atmos.washington.edu/k12/grayskies/nw_weather.html

We use a chartered float plane to access our monthly monitoring stations most cost effectively. We communicate data and environmental marine conditions using: 1. Marine Water

Condition Index (MWCI)

2. Eyes Over Puget Sound (EOPS)

3. Anomalies and source data


Our long-term marine monitoring stations in Washington

Start here

Isl.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Drop “made accessible”. (self-explanatory) “Find past conditions for weather and the water column, at the surface & mooring sites

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/pdf/stationinfo.html

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/surface.html

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/mwci.html

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/pdf/data.zip

In 2013: Temp. is warming Salinity is increasing? Oxygen is decreasing!!!

Puget Sound water conditions are changing again! Compared to 2011-2012, when waters were colder and fresher with higher oxygen, values are beginning to show signs of warmer temperatures and decreasing oxygen. Each pixel is a monthly survey at a single station.


Conditions of the last two years change at our stations

Presenter

Presentation Notes


a) Pacific Decadal Oscillation Index (PDO) …(explanation)

b) Upwelling Index (anomalies) (Upwelling) …(explanation)

c) North Pacific Gyre Oscillation Index (NPGO) …(explanation)

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Three-year running average of PDO, Upwelling, and NPGO indices scores

Ocean boundary conditions have been favorable for water quality in Puget Sound: (a) colder water (PDO), (b) less upwelled low oxygen and high nutrient ocean water reaching Puget Sound (Upwelling Index), and (c) higher surface productivity along the coast (NPGO). Where are we heading next?


.

The ocean affects water quality: Ocean Climate Indices

Presenter

Presentation Notes


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_decadal_oscillation

http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/fed/oeip/db-coastal-upwelling-index.cfm

http://www.o3d.org/npgo/

Nitrate Phosphate

Nutrients in Puget Sound are increasing, read http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/trends.html

Nitrate Phosphate Nutrient Balance (Si:N)

Get the data and trends from us!

We observe increasing nutrients and changing algal biomass patterns in Puget Sound

Changing Nutrient Balance

Algae bloom, Budd Inlet 2010

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/trends.html

Summary: Aerial photography 8-21-2013

Red-brown blooms abundant in all inlets of South Sound and the Kitsap Peninsula. Large algal mats and floating organic material persists in Hood Canal, Central Sound, Sinclair Inlet and Padilla Bay. Jellyfish less abundant. Effects of glacier fed rivers are strong.


Start here

Mixing and Fronts: Pronounced fronts due to suspended sediment in Skagit Bay, and the San Juan Islands, and into the Straits. Tidal eddies large.

Debris: Abundant in Oakland Bay and Case, Budd, Eld, Totten inlets Abundant in northern Central Basin. Abundant in Padilla Bay.

Visible blooms: Red brown: All inlets of South Sound and Kitsap Peninsula. Green yellow: Scow Bay (Kilisut Harbor) and Echo Bay.

Jellyfish: Low numbers in Budd Inlet. Bl

oom

De

bris

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t

Suspended sediment: Glacier fed rivers and re-suspension due to strong tides. Pl

ume

Small red-brown bloom, Sinclair Inlet

Small red-brown bloom, Bainbridge

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Aerial photography navigation guide,


Central Sound & North Sound

Observation Maps:

Seattle: H. tide: 5:02 AM, 6:18 PM, L. tide: 11:34 AM

Afternoon flight, photos 10-20: Good visibility, wind increasing from the north.

Strait of Juan de Fuca

San Juan Islands

Flight Information:

Morning flight, photos 1-9: Good visibility, calm

Hood Canal & South Sound

Padilla Bay

Main Basin

Hood Canal

South Sound

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Red-brown bloom and organic debris in southern inlets. Location: A-B. Budd Inlet, C-D. Totten Inlet (South Sound) 9:12 AM.

1 Aerial photography 8-21-2013 Navigate


Bloo

m

Bloo

m

Bloo

m

Bloo

m De

bris

Debr

is

Debr

is

boats

boats

2 Navigate Aerial photography 8-21-2013 Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings

Different surface water with red-brown bloom, high sediment load, and clearly delineated by a long line of organic debris. Location: Eld Inlet (South Sound), 9:14 AM.

Fron

t

Bloo

m

Debr

is

boats

3 Navigate Aerial photography 8-21-2013

Sediment rich water, red-brown bloom, and lines of organic surface debris. Location: Oakland Bay (South Sound), 9:18 AM.


Bloo

m

aquaculture

4 Navigate


Aerial photography 8-21-2013

Large drifting mats of organic material at surface. Location: Near Tahuya River (Hood Canal), 9:26 AM.

Debr

is

boats


Intense green yellow and red-brown phytoplankton bloom. Location: Scow Bay in Kilisut Harbor (Indian Island near Port Townsend), 10:00 AM.

boats

Surface debris (algal mats) and strong front with distinctly different water. Location: Off Marrowstone Island (Central Sound), 10:02 AM.


Debr

is

boats

Fraser River sediment traversing and mixing dramatically with water in the San Juan Islands. Location: Blakely Island (San Juan Islands), 11:45 AM.


ships

Fraser River sediment traversing and mixing dramatically with water in the San Juan Islands. Location: Near Lopez Sound (San Juan Islands), 11:48 AM.


Fraser River sediment traversing and mixing dramatically with water in the San Juan Islands. Location: Near Obstruction Island (San Juan Islands), 11:49 AM.


boats


Subsurface Fraser River plume re-surfacing in response to tidal currents. Location: Echo Bay, Sucia Island (San Juan Islands), 12:24 PM.


Fraser River front

boats


A. Sub-surface Fraser River plume entering Echo Bay. B. Yellow-green bloom in Fossil Bay. Location: Echo Bay, Sucia Island (San Juan Islands), 12:24 PM.


A.

B.

Bloom

boats

boats

Interplay of water, sediment, and waves form striking surface patterns. Location: East of Lummi Island (Bellingham Bay), 1:29 PM.

12 Navigate



Debr

is boat

boat

Interplay of water, sediment, and waves form striking surface patterns. Location: Samish Island (Samish Bay), 1:58 PM.

13 Navigate



Fishing vessel

Waves breaking up plume

Large algal mats and organic debris. Location: Near Saddlebag Island (Padilla Bay), 2:00 PM.

14 Navigate



Debr

is

Debr

is

Debr

is

boat

tanker

15 Navigate


Green phytoplankton bloom forms a fringe along a sediment plume in shallow water. Location: Skagit River estuary (Skagit Bay), 2:07 PM.


Debr

is

16 Navigate


Red brown phytoplankton bloom mixed in with Skagit River sediment. Location: North of Camano Island (Skagit Bay), 2:54 PM.


Bloom

Debr

is

boats

17 Navigate


Large tidal eddy with sediment rich water and surface debris. Location: Southern Bainbridge Island (Sinclair Inlet), 5:10 PM.


Debr

is

Debr

is

boats

ferry

18 Navigate


Red-brown algae bloom, sediment stained water, and surface debris. Location: Case Inlet (South Sound), 5:24 PM.


Bloom

Debr

is

Debr

is

boat

19 Navigate


Red-brown algae bloom and abundant surface debris. Location: McMicken Island (Case Inlet), 5:24 PM.


Debr

is boat

boat

20 Navigate


Red-brown bloom between Harstine Island and Squaxin Island Location: Squaxin Island (South Sound), 5:28 PM.


Bloom

boat

boat

North Sound/San Juans

Aerial photography observations in Central Sound Navigate


Numbers on map refer to picture numbers for spatial reference

Date: 8-21-2013 Central Sound

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Strait of Juan de Fuca

San Juan Islands

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South Sound Hood Canal

Aerial photography observations in Central Sound Navigate

Date: 8-21-2013


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Legend to map annotations

Comments: Maps are produced by observers during and after flights. They are intended to give an approximate reconstruction of the surface conditions on scales that connect to and overlap with satellite images in the section that follows. Debris: Debris can be distinguished into natural and anthropogenic debris floating at the surface sensu Moore and Allen (2000). The majority of organic debris in Puget Sound is natural mixed with discarded man-made pieces of plastic, wood, etc. From the plane, we cannot differentiate the quality of debris at the surface and therefore, call it for reasons of practicality just “debris”. S.L. Moore, M. J. Allen. 2000. Distribution of Anthropogenic and Natural Debris on the Mainland Shelf of the Southern California Bight. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 40(1), 83–88.

Navigate


Brandon Sackmann Contact:

[email protected]

MERIS True Color image used for spatial context (19 February 2011) of the Victoria Clipper en route monitoring route (red dashes on map).

Ferry and satellite observations 8-21-2013


Start here

No Victoria Clipper data available – Hardware upgrades in progress!!!

Current Conditions: LANDSAT 8 continues to provide valuable near-

surface temperature estimates for Puget Sound. Low-tide imagery provides rare glimpse of beautiful braided channels criss-crossing Whidbey Basin river deltas!



100-m Thermal Infrared

Landsat 8 helps visualize dynamic mixing processes in Puget Sound

21 August 2013

Northern arms of Case and Carr Inlet and central/southern Hood Canal are noticeably warmer than other areas in Puget Sound. Local rivers continue to add relatively warm water at the surface.

“C” Cooler

“W” Warmer

W C

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W W

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21 August 2013 - LANDSAT 8 - 15-m Panchromatic

Skagit North (A) Skagit South (B)

Stillaguamish (C) Snohomish (D)

MODIS-Terra “Turbidity” Proxy

21 August 2013

A,B C

D

Tides 8-21-2013

At our Mukilteo moorings, we observed differences in salinity between the surface (26 and 29 PSU)

and bottom (29.4 PSU) waters. In the deeper water, dissolved oxygen is lower while salinity is higher.

Mooring observations and trends 8-7-2013 to 8-21-2013


Left Panels: Density is defined by salinity and temperature. Probability of finding a specific density over the past two-week period can be shown in a T-S plot. High probability shown in warm colors. Right Panel: Dissolved oxygen concentration in relation to salinity. High probability shown in warm colors.

Note: The mooring contribution to EOPS will be significantly downscaled due to budget cuts.

http://www.nanoos.org/



We report on thickness of the fresher surface water layer by monitoring our sensor at 16m. We define its thickness using 28.55 (±0.05) PSU. At Mukilteo (Whidbey Basin), winds, tidal cycle, and declining river flows influenced the surface water layer thickness, which was rarely detected over the past two weeks. Freshwater input from rivers continues to decline with the Skagit River contributing the largest portion.

* The pycnocline is shallower and outside our monitored depth range.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

River data from

Disc

harg

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02 m3 s

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Avg.

tida

l ran

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Dai

ly N

-S w

ind

spee

d (k

ts)

28.5

5 is

ohal

ine

dept

h (m

)


During the past two weeks, salinity has been increasing and dissolved oxygen decreasing.

Real-time data online (click)




12-16 m depth 2-6 m depth Mukilteo Dissolved Oxygen Conditions

DO Max 6.6 mg/L on 08/07 at 29.4 PSU 11.3 °C 14.7 db

DO Min 3.9 mg/L on 08/14 at 29.5 PSU 12 °C 13.4 db

DO Avg 4.8

DO Trend -0.6 mg/L

DO-Sal Corr -0.68

DO-Temp Corr 0.3

Mukilteo Salinity (Sal) Conditions

Sal Max 29.5 PSU on 08/10 at 11.3 °C 15.7 db Sal Min 28.8 PSU on 08/11 at 13 °C 15 db Sal Avg 29.3 PSU

Sal Trend 0 PSU

Mukilteo Temperature (T) Conditions

T Max 13.1 °C on 08/11 at 28.8 PSU 14.9 db

T Min 11 °C on 08/07 at 29.5 PSU 15.3 db T Avg 12 °C

T Trend 0.9 °C

Mukilteo Salinity (Sal) Sal Max 29.9 PSU on 08/08 at 12 °C 5.8 db Sal Min 24.7 PSU on 08/07 at 17.4 °C 4.3 db Sal Avg 27.3 PSU

Sal Trend 0.3 PSU

Mukilteo Temperature (T)

T Max 18.1 °C on 08/14 at 26 PSU 2.9 db

T Min 11.7 °C on 08/08 at 29.3 PSU 5.9 db

T Avg 15 °C T Trend -0.3 °C

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/eap/marinewq/moorings/MUK01.asp

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/eap/marinewq/moorings/MUK01.asp



Mooring observations and trends Mukilteo 2010 to 2013


This slide shows data from our Mukilteo mooring capturing water exchange between the Main Basin and Possession Sound at 12-16 m. Inter-annual variability in temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen is shown over a 3.5-year period. All three variables show strong seasonality. Thus far in 2013, trends are appearing to be similar to 2010 with relatively warmer water temperature, higher salinity, but lower dissolved oxygen.

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Access mooring data:

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/-

.html

Ferry and satellite : [email protected]

a.gov

Get data from Ecology’s Monitoring Programs

Long–Term Monitoring Network

Real–Time Sensor Network

Access core monitoring data: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/eap/marinewq/mwda

taset.asp

[email protected]

Ecology’s long-term marine monitoring stations

Ferry track Morning flight Evening flight

Freshwater Report: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/fw_riv/freshwaterReport/Ambient_Monitoring-Monthly_Summary.html


http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/moorings.html




mailto:[email protected]


http://www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/eap/marinewq/mwdataset.asp




ftp://ecy.wa.gov/Hallock/FreshwaterReport/Ambient_Monitoring-Monthly_Summary.html

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/fw_riv/freshwaterReport/Ambient_Monitoring-Monthly_Summary.html





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Many thanks to our business partners: Clipper Navigation, Swantown Marina, and Kenmore Air.

We are looking for feedback to improve our products.

Dr. Christopher Krembs

[email protected]

Marine Monitoring Unit Environmental Assessment Program

WA Department of Ecology



eops 2013 08_21

Education